26 JUNE 1993, Page 30

Technical Hitch

Sir: There is one snag about the quotation from the New Statesman of October 1975 with which Christopher Hitchens attempts to cover up his gaffe over Harold Wilson (Letters, 19 June). I did not write it, he did — something that close students of 'the Hitch' prose style (youthful, brash period) may conceivably have spotted. Even in mid- dle age he should not seek refuge in mod- esty: it does not become him.

Anthony Howard

The Times, 1 Pennington Street, London El